Ouachita Stories

The Theatre Arts Department of Ouachita Baptist University will present the children’s show The Crane Wife Sept. 20-25 in Ouachita’s Verser Theater. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. each evening with the exception of Sunday, which will feature a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 each and may be purchased at www.obu.edu/boxoffice.

The Crane Wife tells the tale of a poor man who finds an injured crane on his doorstep. After taking the crane in and nursing it back to health the man releases the bird, only to find that a beautiful woman has appeared in its place. Soon after, the man and woman are united through marriage, but the husband’s growing greed soon brings the story to dramatic conclusion. Originally a Japanese folktale, The Crane Wife was adapted by Barbara Carlisle and now captivates audiences of all ages.

Director Daniel Inouye said he chose this play for two reasons: “First, I love it because of the moral that it’s telling. It’s an idea that we all as humans struggle with. To be able to have a theatrical piece that shares such strong morals is great because I think that all theatre in some way should teach us. Secondly, I chose this piece because of the amazing theatrical experience it shares with the audience, as well as for the collaborative creative team behind it.

“We’re doing a very stylized theatre piece,” Inouye added. “It’s very much in line with the puppet theatre of Japan, so we’re using large scale puppets; we’re also using shadows and shadow play, masks and all that sort of thing. Our goal is to create for our audience a very stylized theatrical experience that they have probably never had before.”

Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts, serves as director for the show, and Garrett Whitehead, a junior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, serves as assistant director. C.J. Bernard, a sophomore theatre arts major from Sherwood, Ark., serves as stage manager and is assisted by Jalin Wesley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark. Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts, serves as scenic designer and lighting designer. Marshall Pope, theatre shop technical director, serves as technical director. Heather White, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, serves as choreographer and Kayla Esmond, a sophomore musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas, serves as dance captain. Sarah Davis, a senior theatre arts major from Bedford, Texas, serves as the show’s dramaturg.

The cast of The Crane Wife includes: Jacob Sturgeon, a junior musical theatre major from Pine Bluff, Ark., as Kokuro; Heather White, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, as Crane Wife; Betsy Wilson, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, and Chad Burris, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark., as narrators; Ben Perry, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., as the Neighbor; and Joe Ochterbeck, a junior theatre arts major from Maumelle, Ark., as the Samurai.

The village chorus is includes: Lauren Linton, a junior musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn.; Bethany Gere, a sophomore musical theatre major from White Hall, Ark.; Cami Willis, a sophomore musical theatre and church media/production arts major from Flower Mound, Texas; Kenderick Scorza, a freshman theatre arts major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Ben Stidham, a sophomore musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas; and Robby Taylor, a sophomore musical theatre major from Harriman, Tenn.

Member of the crane and dance chorus are: Stacy Hawking, a freshman musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; Kaylee Nebe, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas; Jordan Miller, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas; Kayla Esmond, a junior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas; Natalie Williams, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; and Caitlin Secrest, a senior vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark.

The production crew is composed of seven production crew classifications including costumes, hair and makeup, props, scenery, lights, sound, and publicity.

Costume team members include Amanda Murray, a senior musical theatre major from Racine, Wis., who serves as designer, and Brooke Brackett, a junior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark., who serves as crew head.

Building crew members include Mattie Bogoslavsky, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Walter Dodd, a freshman theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Shannon Huntsman, a sophomore speech communication major from Little Rock, Ark.; Alison Johnson, a senior musical theatre major from Shreveport, La.; Blakely Knox, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark.; Lindsey Lederer, a senior musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas; Danielle Love, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Emily Rankin, a freshman education major from Texarkana, Texas; Blaine Surber, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas; Lily Taylor, a freshman musical theatre major from Harriman, Tenn.; and Elizabeth Wheeler, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

Makeup and hair team members include Kaylee Nebe, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas, who serves as designer, and Alyssa Eskelsen, a senior music and business administration major from Bryan, Texas, who serves as a crew member.

Jillian Kaniss, a junior psychology major from Texarkana, Texas, and Kelley Lester, a speech and theatre arts and secondary education major, serve as dual prop masters. Props team crew members include Tara Clem, a freshman musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas; Annie McMurray, a freshman musical theatre major from Lindale, Texas; and Aaron Pinion, a freshman theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla.

Reed Ashley, a freshman musical theatre major from Booneville, Ark., and Gideon Curlin, a sophomore art and graphic design major from Arkadelphia, Ark., make up the scenery shifting and run crew.

Timothy Drennan, a junior musical theatre major from Paron, Ark., who serves as light board operator, and Shonna Jasperson, a freshman theatre arts major from Houston, Texas, serves as sound board operator.

Cody Myers, a senior psychology and musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark., serves as house manager, and Adam Oakes, a junior graphic design and computer science major, serves as poster and program designer. Publicity and front-of-house team members are: Caroline Cain, a freshman theatre arts major from Boise, Idaho; Truett Dishman, a freshman musical theatre major from McKinney, Texas; Jacob Kirchoff, a freshman musical theatre major from Cypress, Texas; Nicole Mattson, a junior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Jessica Smith, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; MaryLacy Thomson, a junior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas; and Hailey Weiner, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

Tickets may be purchased at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. and one hour before show times. Tickets may also be purchased with credit card by phone or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call the box office at 870-245-5555 during regular box office hours. Also, each current OBU student may receive one free ticket to the show by presenting his or her OBU ID at the box office.

By Austin Selph